Ship s recording compass



(No Model.) '7 9 Shgets8 h9et 1. J. HOPE. SHIPS RECORDING COMPASS.

No. 505,361. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) v 9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. HOPE.

SHIPS RECORDING COMPASS.

No. 505,361. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet a. J. HOPE.

SHIPS RECORDING GOMPASS. No. 505,361. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) I v 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

- J. HOPE.

SHIPS REGORDING COMPASS. No. 505,361. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. HOPE. SHIPS RECORDING COMPASS Patented Sept. 19, 1898.

Jig/m (.No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

J. HOPE. SHIPS RBGORDING COMPASS.

Patented Sept. 19, 1893. [14.11.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

J. HOPE. sHIPs RECORDING COMPASS.

No. 505,361. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 9.

J. HOPE.

SHIPS RECORDING COMPASS.

Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

JOHN HOPE, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

SHIPS RECORDING-COMPASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,361, datedSeptember 19, 1893.

Application filed December 2,1892. Serial Ila 53,841. (N0 model.)Patented in England June 8, 1891, No. 9,675.

To all whom m5 may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HOPE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britainand Ireland, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England,have invented new and useful Improvements in Ships Recording-Com passesor Course-Recording Apparatus, (for which I have obtained Letters Patentin Great Britain, No. 9,675, bearing date June 8, 1891,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

In a ships course recording compass or apparatus according to thisinvention, there is employed a clockwork or other motor for actuatingthe different parts, a traveling chart, a marking mechanism such as apricker, and magnets, the said parts being supported on suitable gimbalsor equivalent bearings. The chart or strip of paper is marked atsuitable intervals of time by the marker, and the marker is actuated bythe motor.

In the drawings hereto annexed is illustrated a ships course recordingapparatus according to thisinvention, that is to say, showing one way ofcarrying out the invention.

In these drawings the same letters and numerals of reference are used todenote the same or like parts wherever they occur in the differentfigures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 1 is a detailshowing the mounting of an anti-vibrator pendulum. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation in section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a detail to a largerscale of the pricker and pricker actuating bar or ring. Fig. 3 is a planof the apparatus. Figs. 3 and 3 are details showing the gear foroperating the chartpaper moving roller. Fig.4 is a view of the mechanismin plan between the upper and second plates, showing the escapementmechanism for controlling the action of the pricker marker. Fig. 5 isasectional plan taken at the line A A in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectionalplan taken at the line B B in Fig. 2, namely, through the spring case.Fig. 7 is a sectional plan taken at the line C O in Fig. 2, andillustrates the going train of wheels and escapement mechanism of theclockwork for time keeping purposes. Fig. 8 is a plan in section of theapparatus with all the motor mechanism removed, viz., at the line D D inFig. 2, and showing the table and pricker mechanism in full plan. Fig. 9is a sectional plan taken through the bowl at the line E E in Fig. 2.Fig. 10 is a plan being a section through the apparatus at the line F FFig. 2, and showing a detail of part of the vibration interruptingmechanism,- or what may be called, for convenience, the anti-vibratormechanism. Figs. 11 and ll are plans showing the pricker actuatingcontrolling escapement mechanism to a larger scale and in two positions;and Figs. 12 and 12 are elevations of this mechanism also shown to alarger scale. Fig. 13 is a plan of the base of the apparatus. Fig. 14 isan elevation partly in section of the base, and showing also the cover.Fig. 15 is an elevation and Fig. 16 a plan illustrating a modificationof the anti-vibrator mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 10; and Figs. 17and 18 are respectively an elevation and plan of a further modified formof anti-vibrator.

Referring now to the drawings, a are the magnets, and a pontons in whichsuch magnets are contained.

19 is the bowl in which a liquid such as spirit of wine, or othersuitable liquid is contained, and in which the pontons a containing themagnets are disposed and work.

0, 0 represent two markers consisting of pricker points.

(1 are the bifurcated ends or jaws in which the pricker points 0 c arefixed.

d are the arms supporting the jaws d, and d d are gimbal rings, theouter one of which carries the arms cl and also counterbalance weights dandsnpporting arms d the inner one carrying the outer ring and beingitself mounted on or supported from the bearing socket a a aresuspension bars by which the pontons a, are supported from the socket ac is the angle bar ring by which the prickers c c are actuated, theupper flange of which ring lies within the bifurcated ends orjaws d.

fis the table over which the chart or slip of paper to be marked passes,said table being supported from the cover I) of the bowl by side framesf.

g is a ring disposed above the chart and secured to the table f by thumbscrews g which are so adapted and disposed as to be easily taken off orplaced in position,said ring serving as a means of holding the chartpapers up to the prickers c c in the act of pricking ICO as well as aprotractor as hereinafter explained. The whole mechanism above thetablefis supported from this table by two columns 71, one on either sideof the appa- 5 ratus, said columns beingmountcd on atable f andsupporting plates h and '1' through which said columns are passed. Thisarrangement provides a clear space above the paper chart by which thediagram being marked can be easily seen and read, at any time, and alsoaffords easy access to the ring g and its fastening screws 9'.

The motor mechanism and time keeping mechanism are supported upon andbetween the plate It, the plate 1', the plate j, and the plate 7t.Between the plates h and i the going train and time keeping mechanism ofthe apparatus is disposed. Between the plates 2' andj, the springs andwinding mechanism are arranged; and between the plates j and 7c themarker actuating mechanism is situated. The plate 2' is supported fromand fixed to h by columns 2'. The platej is mounted on t' and securedthereto by fixed columnsj; while the plate 7; is fixed to j by the fixedcolumns j These columns are not shown in Fig. 1 for the sake ofclearness or better illustration of the mechanism.

The columns h by which the whole superstructure or mechanism is securedto the aforesaid plates, is fixed to the table f, are each of twoditferent diameters, and the shoulder thereby formed serves as a seat onwhich the plate 7t rests. The plates h are (ach provided-with aperturesthrough which the upper parts of the columns it pass easily, and they(with the other parts specified) are held down in position by thumbscrews 2. These thumb screws can be readily put on and taken off; andthis construction and arrangement provides a means by which the wholemechanism above the table f can easily be removed and fitted.

Of the motor mechanisrml is the arbor, which is supported at the top bythe plate It and at the bottom by the lower edge or shoulder of theswollen part Z thereof resting upon the upper side of the plate i.

m m represent two inter-coiled springs of the motor mechanism the innerends of which are attached to the hooks Z of the arbor Z, while theirouter ends are attached to the hooks n fixed on the inner side of thecase and opposite each other, said case being des ignated n. In thisarrangement these two springs lie in the same horizontal plane.

is the winding ratchet wheel, which is fixed upon the square part Zofthe arbor Z; and 0 is one of the main driving wheels of themechanism1nounted loosely on the arborto which motion is imparted fromthe springs by the ratchet wheel 0 through the pawls 0 which are mountedupon the web 0 of the toothed wheel 0. This wheel drives the mechanism,hereinafter fully described, which actuates the pricker marker.

12 is another main driving wheel of the motor mechanism, that is, allthe mechanism be tween the plates '2' and 7t; also the mechanism shownon the right hand side of Figs. 1,4, and 11 by which the operation ofthe aforesaid marker actuating mechanism is controlled; and also thechart paper feeding actuating roller. By means of the connections of thetwo springs m m with the arbor land the case n, and by the arrangementand connection of the driving wheels 0 and 7), these wheels will bothrevolve and their movement will be opposite in direction; at the sametime their movements are not interrupted by the winding of the springsthrough turning the arbor Z and the ratchet wheel 0 thereon.

9' is a roller on which the blank strip of paper or chart "r to bemarked is coiled and stored, this roller being mounted by the bracketframe (1 to the bottom of the bowl I) and directly beneath the center ofthe pivot; that is, the axis of this roller and its center of gravity(including the paper 7" upon it) is coincident with the vertical axis ofthe center of the apparatus, and said pivot.

r is a guide roller for steering the paper. r is another guiding rollerover which the paper passes, the upper edge of which is on the samelevel practically as the surface of the table f, 1' being a roller toretain the paper on r 7" is the driven roller (actuated as hereinafterdescribed), by which the paper is drawn over the table f, its upper edgebeing also level with the upper surface of the table.

r T are duplex rollers connected together at their ends by coupling barsa, in which their journals run freely; while 1' are rods projecting fromT and fitting loosely in slots in the end f of the side frames f. Thespindles of both rollers r 0- and r are mounted in the side frames f,the spindles of 7' being disposed within slots in said side frames, sothat these rollers can be readily taken out and placed in position whendesired.

The paper moving roller 2-", is, as above stated, driven by theclockwork mechanism from the main driving wheel p on, or forming partof, the spring case n, and the following is the gear through which poweris transmitted from the main driving wheelp to the roller 0". A toothedwheel 1, mounted on the vertical spindle 2, gears with the main drivingwheelp, and on the lower end of said spindle are fixed an upper andlower wheels 3 of different sizes. Gearing with one of the wheels 3, areprovided wheels 4, also of different diameter, and on the end of theshaft 5, which carries the wheels at, is provided a miter wheel 6,gearing with a miter wheel 7 fixed or mounted upon one of the sideframes f. Connected to this miter wheel 7 is a toothed wheel 8 gearingwith an idle toothed wheel 0,which in turn gears with a toothed wheel 10fixed on the paper driving roller 7* or its axle. The spindle 2 is notcontinuous, but has upon it a coupling 2* of ordinary tongue and grooveconstruction as shown-by which the upper gear of the aplower wheels 3and 4 are in gear.

paratus can be removed from the lower without making any mechanicaldisconnections as far as'the driving mechanism for the roller r justdescribed, is concerned. 3

The two dilferent sized wheels 3 and the corresponding wheels 4.constitute a means for driving the chart paper at ditferent velocities.WVhen the upper wheels3 and 4 are in gear, the speed is half of thatwhen the The purpose of this provision is that it affords a means ofregulating the velocity of the feed of the chart, and is useful in goinglong voyages for diminishing the length of chart marked, and forregulating the rate of speed according to that of the vessel. Forinstance, when a steam ship is going full speed, the higher speed wheelsmay be in gear, while when it is going at say half speed the lower speedwheels may be made to gear with each other.

The changing of the speed wheels is effected by the mounting shown inFigs. 3 and 3 consisting of a forked supporting bearing 11 which graspsor spans the boss of the wheels 4:, such fork having upon its outer enda screw pin 12, which passes through a slot in the supporting bracket 13and has fitted over it, and working upon it, a milled nut l-it, by theturning on or off of which the bearing 11 is fixed or clamped at anypart of the bracket 13, and released, at will. The shaft 5 has aflattened part or keyway, and the wheels 4 are correspondingly made (orsuch parts are equivalently constructed), so that this shaft will berevolved whenever the wheels 4 are rotated, no matter what theirposition is. This dilferential speed mechanism may be provided oradapted to give more than two ates of speed if desired.

The going train or timing mechanism is driven also from the spindle 2,from a wheel 15 thereon, through the following train of wheels, namely,16 to 23, the latter wheel of which is on the scape-wheel spindle of theeseapement. This eseapement may consist of an ordinary eseapementmechanism, and is of special construction only in so far that it is aself-contained eseapement movement (including the whee 23), that is, theparts thereof are all mounted in a bracket frame 3, the lower limb ofwhich is pear shaped as shown in Fig. 7, and which limb fits into acorresponding aperture in the plate h and is held therein by screws 3'.By this means the eseapement which is the most delicate part of theapparatus, can be readily taken from the apparatus, examined, repaired,if necessary, and put back, without disturbing the other parts of themechanism; or it may be replaced by another eseapement.

Through the spindle 2, yet another mechanism is operated, namely, themechanism which rotates a crown wheel which controls the action of thepricker actuating mechanism. This mechanism is driven from the spindle 2by the toothed wheel 24 fixed there on, toothed wheel 25, and toothedwheel 26,

mounted on the same spindle as the crown wheel. The crown wheelis'designated t and its spindle is t. It will be seen that as the rateof rotation is timed by the eseapement in s, the rate of rotation of thecrown wheelt and the rotation of the chart paper feeding roller r arealso timed, and that rate is kept constant by the eseapement.

The parts of the mechanism of the pricker actuating mechanism which thecrown wheel tcontrols, and serves as an eseapement device to, are, thelower of the two wheels Mu on the under side of u of which projectingparts u are provided. The leading edges of these projections u engagewith the teeth of the crown wheel, and then pass through the aperturebetween such teeth. The projections to are arranged on the under side ofu in a circular arrangement, there being two rows of them at differentradii from the axis of a M the projections forming the inner ring beingdisposed in the circle, midway between those of the outer set. Theeffect of this is, that as the crown wheel 2% revolves and releases oneprojection a, so that it can pass between its teeth, the followingprojection in the other row will strike the outer face or periphery ofthe next tooth on the crown wheel, and will be retained by it until thecrown wheel releases it; and thus alternately does the wheel retain andrelease successively the successive projections of the two rows ofprojections on the under side of u. The motion of the wheel it, whichtakes place in the manner just described, is imparted to the angle barring ewhich actuates the pricker marker-through the upper edge of thewheel a, which consists of a number of inclined planes, and thecorresponding under edge of the wheel 1.0 which also consists of anumber of inclined planes; a crosshead 4) connected to M and side rods20 connecting n and the ring 6 together and serving to transmit themotion imparted to U by u. The lower ends of the rods to are connectedto the ring 6 by the projecting arms 6 thereon. The rods to are guidedat the top by the upper plate 70, nipples c fixed upon the upper side ofthe crosshead sliding through said plate; while at their lower partsthey are guided by the plates 2 and h, and the table f, through whichthey pass. The rods 20 are fixed to the crosshead 'v by the set screws20, and between the plates j and 1' they pass through hollow columns102.

The mechanism by which the lower wheel a is rotated consists of atoothed wheel 30 engaging with the main driving toothed wheel 0 (which,as above stated, is operated through the arbor Z), toothed wheel 31 onthe same spindle as 30, and toothed wheels 32, 33, 34, and finally thetoothed wheel 35, which'is con nected to or mounted on the under side ofthe wheel at. This wheel revolves loosely upon thearborl. Thismechanismis the only one driven from the large toothed driving wheel 0.

TOC

IIC

The whole mechanism or apparatus is supported from the gimbal ring a: bythe knife edge supports 0; fixed to the bowl I), while the ring a: issupported in the side brackets y by knife edges :0 the said bracketsbeing fixed upon the base.

The means for reducing the degree of vibration of ships recordingapparatus, or ships compasses, or for neutralizing same, as illustratedin Figs. 1 and 1, consists of links z suspended from the knife edgesupport as by the adjustable screw pivots z, and a mass or weighted body.2 having on it arms, the ends of which are supported from the lowerends of The ends of the arms of the mass .2 and the part of the link 2on which they rest, are formed as knife edges so that the point ofcontact is extremely small and a freedom of movement is provided for.The body acts as mass on one end of the pendulum, and, in this example,is hollow as shown, for the purpose of containing liquid, and serving asa chamber in which the vanes g on the under side of the bracketq aredisposed and work. The purpose and action of these vanes in the liquid(which say is glycerine) in 2 is that the effect of the vibrations ofthe two pendulums on one another, is accentuated, and the vibrations ofthe whole apparatus are the more quickly subdued. The liquid in 2 isinclosed by half covers .2 with the exception of an aperture in thecenter which allows for suflicient movement of the vanes q, and the mas2 in relation to each other. The screws 2 serve as pivots,supporting thehooks forming the upper ends of the links a; and the adjustment therebyprovided is to enable the length of the pendulum supported on thesepivots, and its rate of vibration, to be regulated at will, so as togive it a relative rate of vibration to that of the main apparatus, inorder to obtain the effects desired. Consequently they serve fordifferent adj ustments according to the diiterence of weight ofdifferent instruments, and their centers of gravity, which willnecessarily, in many cases, to some extent, be unequal or diiterent.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 15 to 18, of this anti-vibrationmechanism, no liquid is employed, and in such cases the vanes q wouldnot be used, but the stem g in Fig. 1 would work within the space .2" inthe mass or weight .2

represents a rubber ring forming the inside lining of the aperture .2",and constitutes a buffer against which the stem g may strike. The liquidin the weight or 'mass .2 in Fig. 1 serves a similar purpose withrespect to the vane q, but its action is more effective than the actionof those shown in Figs. 15 to 18, in so far that the reduction andneutralization of the vibration of the apparatus is much more quicklyproduced by it, than by those of the latter construction. It will beseen in Figs. 15 and 16 that the mass is supported by gimbals while thatin Figs. 17 and 18 is a fixture. I find that the former arrangement,

namely, that in Figs. 15 and 16, is somewhat superior in eitect to thelatter arrangement.

It is obvious that in the recording apparatus illustrated, the wholeapparatus su pportcd to the gimbal knife edge supports x constitutes onependulum, whose length is that of the distance between the supportingedge of the said knife edge support, and the center of gravity of thewhole; while the other pendulums length is the distance between theplanes of the points of support of the links .2, and the center ofgravity of the mass comprising the parts .2, and the weight or body .2and parts connected therewith. These different lengths of pendulums andtheir weights will always be unequal, and in consequence their rates ofvibration will also be unequal: upon these differential rates ofvibration of this compound pendulum (or these duplex pendulums) the selfneutralization or destruction of oscillation rests, and by them theinstrument is quickly brought to a steady state, after it has been setinvibration. The application of this mode or means of reducing orneutralizing the vibrations to ships compasses will be easilyunderstood, by assuming that the whole mechanism on and above the coverof the bowl Z) of the instru ment shown to be removed, and a compasscard suitably fitted on or in connection with the magnets; of course theparts such as the rollers r and r may be assumed to be removed also. Atthe same time it will be plain that this anti-vibrator mechanism may beapplied to ordinary ships compasses other than those wherein the magnetswork in a liquid.

The apparatus is adapted to be covered in for the purpose of conveyanceand protection, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14:, the cover being designatedA; the cover is provided with a door A and is adapted to be fitted toand taken away from the base 3 by the bolts 40, which engage with anddisengage from the plates r1, by slots, as shown therein. This is a wellknown device for connecting and disconnecting parts together.

The base illustrated in Figs. 13 and 1% is shown in two parts, an upperand an under one. The upper part if works on a pivot 3 and has a pointer1 on its edge, while on the lower part of the base the scale 1 markedwith degrees is provided; hence when desired at any time the instrumentcan be set for a given course. This is particularly useful in caseswhere onlyone pricker marker is used, as in such a case the nearer themarker pricks the chart to the center line thereof, the better thediagram is, and so in such cases when a ship is about to sail astraight, or fairly straight course, it may become advantageous for thesake of clearness of the chart, and to show the qaulity of the steering,as well as to provide distinctiveness between the different punctures,to set theinstrument on the course required to be steered, so that thesingle pricker will lie directly in the vertical plane which passesthrough the center line of the chart. WVhen a course has been set, theupper part and the lower part of the base may be clamped together byclamping screws y".

I will now describe the modesof operation, and the particular eifectsproduced by the difierent mechanisms, the efiects and purposes of therelative dispositions of certain parts herein described, and generallythe apparatus as a whole.

The general operation of the apparatus is as follows: The motor springsbeing wound up, and the chart on the store roller 0 being passed overthe rollers r, W, and between 7'', r and T the operation commences; thatis to say, the chart is moved forward past the pricker marker, and atthe same time at certain periods the marker is actuated and puncturesthe chart, the position of the pricker or prickers being maintained bythe magnets. The operation of the roller r by which the paper is fedforward past the marker, has been already fully described. The actuationof the pricker is effected by the releasing of the wheel u by the crownwheel 15, namely, as the crown wheel tIBVOiVGS at a settled rate ofspeed (it being driven from the main driving toothed wheel I) throughthe gear already described) it releases one of the projections '16 onthe wheel it through the space between its teeth, while the followingprojection u on u, following the one released comes into contact withthe face of the succeeding tooth of the crown wheel t, and so stops a.This amount of movement of u will just equal the length of the distanceapart of its inclined planes on its upper surface, and in that movementthe inclined planes of u acting upon theiuclined planes of the fixedupper wheel 1?, raises same to a height equivalent to the depth of theinclined planes, and then releases it. The upward limit of movementof aand the crosshead 7) connected to it is illustrated in Fig. 12 to alarger scale, while the normal or lower position thereof is shown inFig. 12 and Fig. 1. The wheel a is, as above stated, primarily drivenfrom the large drivingtoothed wheel 0, whichis driven from the arbor Z(to which the inner ends of the springs m m are connected), and theintermediate gear already described. The time taken in traveling fromone projection a to another is about one six thousandth of a minute, andhence the time occupied iii the lifting and lowering of the prickermarker actuating ring 6 (motion being transmitted toitthrough therodsw),and the pricker is one one-hundredth of a second; that is to 1say, the action of the ring 6 upon the pricker marker pressing it upthrough the paper and withdrawing it is practically instantaneous. It isimportant that this should be so, since any prolonged contact betweenthe markers and the part which operates them, would set themoscillatingin the horizontal plane,which obviously would be a seriousdefect. The

pricker marker shown in the drawings is, as already described, induplicate, that is, there are two prickers c, c. This feature wasdesigned and introduced to render more clear or distinguishable thepuncturing or marking of the chart; forinstance, if one pricker only beemployed, (assuming the ship were sailing upon a course with thispricker action upon or about the center line of the chart,) if the shipwere to change her course to the extent of say ninety degrees, then thesmall irregularities of the ships course due to steering, or othercause, would not be so easily read or distinguished as those when thepricker was acting and puncturing on or about the middle portion of thechart. But when the double arrangement herein shown and described isused, one marker being set say aboutninety degrees from the other, ifone marker be acting upon the extreme edge of the chart, that is, as faras the marker can mark, the other will be acting upon and puncturing thecenter part of the chart and irregularities are eas ly seen; whereas ifthe part of the chart being marked is between the extremes, thevariations of the course (that is minute variations) are also, under anycircumstances, very plain and easily read. I prefer to make these twomarkers distinguishable from one another in the forms of punctures, sothat no matter what course or direction the ship is sailing in, if oneof these differential markers be used or identified solely in relationto one d rection of variation,say the starboard variations, no mistakescan be made, and the direction of the course of the ship can always beascertained. These differential markers can be produced by making one ofthe points of split, or of duplex form, and the other a single point; orany other equivalent differentiating plan by which the two can bedistinguished in effect upon the chart may be adopted.

it is important that the points of the prickers, and the point of thepivot a be substantially in the same horizontal plane in order to avoidoscillations of the marker and magnets after each actuation of theformer; also the center of gravity of the whole marking device is keptwell down below the point of the pivot which supports it, by bendingdown the bars d and d on the ends of which the jaws d and the balanceweights (Z are mounted, these parts constituting the bulk of the mass ofthe marking device.

A further means in connection with the pricker marker, by which Iprevent lateral oscillations of it, and of the magnets, is alsoimportant. It consists in having the part of the pricker upon which theactuating device thereof impinges, of rounded form or of small surface.I find that by making this provision, lateral oscillations of themarker, due to the impact of said actuating device, are prevented. Inthe construction of the pricker shown in the drawings, this provision iseffected by prolonging the stem of the prickers points 0 c which passthrough the upper member of the jaw or bifurcated end (1, and roundingits lower end, so that the upper sur- IIO face of the angle bar e, whenelevated, and in the act of pressing the marker up through the paper,comes into contact with a very small area or surface of the marker, andimparts a purely vertical thrust, 2'. 6. without any oblique resultantof any kind.

The construction and arrangement of the marker and parts connected withit, shown 1]] the drawings, are those which provide for a completerevolution of the markers, and puncturing to take place throughout thewhole part of the circle. This is caused by providing the part c as acomplete ring, and a complete circular gap in the table 7, and by havinga free and unrestricted path for the markers.

The connection of the magnets with the marker is made, as above stated,by supporting the two pontons a in which the magnets are disposed, fromthe pivot support a (on which the markers are mounted and fixed) bysuspension bars a hence the magnets and the mounting of the markers are,for all practlcal purposes, rigid, as regards all lateral movements orpositions, but the markers are absolutely free as regards verticaloscillations or movement from the horizontal plane in which they lie, bymounting them on the double gimbal rings (Z (Z which connect the markerarms of the pivot mounting a Thus, any movement of thelatter kind, ofthe markers, does not in any way affect the position of the pontons andmagnets, or disturb them.

As regards the magnet pontons, and the liquid in which they work, thelevel within the bowl is ascertained through the filling tube Z2 whichis partially of glass and through which the level of the liquid can beseen.

The pontons a in which the magnets are disposed, are provided in orderto renderthe apparatus as true and sensitive as possible, that is, totake off or remove as much friction as possible between the point of thepivot a which supports them, and the stone of the magnet mounting awhich bears upon it. I find that a workable arrangement by which thismay be carried out consists in constructing the pontons to have acapacity that will give buoyancy just sufficient to support about ninetenths of the weight of themselves, and the magnets they contain,together with the other mountings and parts connected with them, leavingthus only one tenth to be supported by the pivot. The fractions ninetenths, and one tenth, are approximate only, and are here used mainly toexplain the method of mounting; but the exact mode which I adopt bypreference, is to use methylated spirits of wine (or proof alcohol), andto construct the pontonsto have sufficient buoyancy to just float themand the parts connected with them when placed in water, so thatafterward, when placed in this spirit (the specific gravity of which isabout .916, water being 1) the pontons will sink. I,

however, may adjust the weight upon the pivot by making the liquid moreor less buoyant by adding more water, or more spirit.

The ring b which surrounds the neck b of the cover I) of the bowl, isprovided to catch any liquid which may flow over the lip of l)", or passover same by capillary attraction.

The pivotal point of the pivot to is substantially in the exacthorizontal plane in which the gimbals supporting the apparatus lie, sothat the point of said pivot has no motion, no matter what oscillationsmay be given to the instrument; and consequently the 0scillations of theinstrument are not transmitted to the marker, and it therefore alwaysremains at rest and undisturbed.

Regarding the chart, the roller 0' on which the blank chart paper (orruled paper as the case may be) is stored, is disposed directly beneaththe central axis of the instrument for the purpose of avoiding theunbalancing of the apparatus as the weight of paper becomes reduced, dueto its being drawn off 7". It the coil or store of paper be disposedout.- side of the center of gravity of the instrument, the uncoiling orremoval of the paper from it, unbalances the instrument somewhat, whichis objectionable. The drawing off roller 7" has a rough surface at eachend, namely, at the parts 1' where it is slightly of larger diameterthan the central portion. These rough parts of course are the propellingparts of the roller, the paper beingpressed on to them by twin rollers0- the largest and operative parts atthe ends thereof, and which lieover the parts r of 1", being also roughened. These duplex rollers areintroduced to effect the better regulation and guidance of the chart,and at the same time keep it properly down upon the parts 0* The rollerr at its extreme ends is larger still than the partsr ,and theseenlarged parts form flanges, between which the paper lies, and by whichit is partially guided. The outside edges of the rollers 0"", 0*, thatis the part of these rollers which bear upon the paper, just lie withinthe flanges formed by the enlarged ends of the roller r just referredto, and thus these rollers r gr are kept within theirproper place by thesaid enlarged parts.

To indicate upon the chart time marks, I provide upon one of the parts"r of the roller r (saythe starboard side) anumberof points 0* (sayfour) in order to show the distance of chart moved by each revolution ofr. This will show upon the chart the duration of time any given numberor lengths of markings (i. e. puncturings) has taken to be impressed inthe paper, and serve as a mark of identification as to which is the portand which is the starboard side of the chart. As a modification, theseparts 7' maybe provided on both ends of the rollers to equalize matters,and they help also to move the chart. In this case one of the points isof double form (or equivalently formed) in order to identifythe port andstarboard sides of the chart.

ITO

In Fig. 3 the rollers r 4" are shown recessed near their outer edges.These recesses would come or lie over the course traversed by the points1', and by them the points are free to puncture or pass through thepaper without in ury.

A pointer r is fixed on the side frames f directly above the center of7- and a scale is provided on one end of r (as shown in Fig.8). Thedivision shown is in twelve parts, representing five minutes for eachdivision, so that the roller T will make one revolution in one hour.

The purposes and effects of the ring 9 are to form a surface ofresistance or a backing to support the paper, and prevent it beinglifted when the pricker points 0, c are passed upward into the paper.But it also serves as a protractor, it being provided with a scale ofdegrees, (as shown in Fig. 8,) or points, by which the exact degree orpoint which the ship is sailing can be seen and read off, while theinstrument is going; and the parts of the apparatus above this ring areso elevated and out of the way, and so arranged, that this reading ofthe scale and chart can the more easily be done. Also, the pricker orits effects can thereby be examined and seen with facility; and further,the thumb-screws g which hold the ring g in position can, by thisarrangement, be quickly and readily unscrewed and the ring g removed,and replaced, whenever desired, and with facility, as no obstructionswhatever exist, the only parts connecting the upper structure of theapparatus with the table f, being the supporting columns h. It will beseen by Figs. 1, 2, and 2 that the under side of the ring 9 stands alittle above the surface of the tablef, while its wings 9 (Figs. 1 and8) which support it, and fix it upon the table, come into contact withthe table f. Hence a space is provided between g and the surface of thetablef to allow a free passage of the paper through the machine. \Vithrespect to the springs mym (which are by preference of steel), it willbe observed that they are respectively connected at one of their ends,'i. 6., their outer ends, to the case at exactly opposite each other,while their other, namely, their inner ends,are connected to the arbor Zexactly opposite each other, the connections being effected by providingholes in the springs, and projecting hooks Z and n on the arbor andcase, respectively. By so arranging the two springs, intercoiled onewithin the other, as described, and fixing them in relation to eachother as described, any unbalancing due to eccentric projection of aspring in uncoiling is balanced exactly by the other; and consequentlynot only is a perfect balancing of the whole apparatus preserved, butthe possible error of the instrument which might accrue by such aneccentric unwinding of one spring, through its influence upon themagnets, (although said spring were mounted over the axis of themagnets,) is obviated; that is to say, when the duplex arrangement isused, the ec'cen- Although the springs are shown in the drawings, onewithin the other (and this is the arrangement I prefer),still theymaybedisposed one above the other if desired, so long as they areadapted to uncoil and act in the manner just described.

I prefer to finish the outside of the bowl and its cover bright, as Ifind that by so doing the heat rays are absorbed at a far smaller ratethan if these parts are left dull, or have any dark color upon themandin consequence of this, the rate of evaporation of liquid in the bowlis kept as small as possible. Probably about one tablespoonful isevaporated in lieu of the two or three or more in the same given time.It may be also here remarked that all the metallic parts of theinstrument with the exception of the springs m, 'm', and the arbor aremade of non-magnetic metal, that is to say of metal which hasnoinfluence upon the magnets.

I Wish it to be understood that although at present I prefer to have themechanism herein described of the forms shown,yet it is to be understoodthat these particular forms may be modified without departing from theirgen eral principle of construction and purposes. As an instance, I maymention the marking device. This need not necessarily be provided withpuncturing points, since any form of marking point or device which wouldrecord an impression upon the paper, may be used in substitutionthereof; nevertheless, I prefer the puncturing form of marker.

It is also to be understood that the different features according tothis invention herein described and shown (that is, the features claimedin the claiming clauses concluding the specification) may be usedindividually in connection with ships course recorders which differotherwise radically from that which I have described and illustrated inthe drawings.

Having now described this invention,l de clare that what Iclaim inrespect thereof is 1. In a ships course recording apparatus, thecombination of a diagram sheet or chart; magnets adapted to retain anorth and south position, and inclosed in a ponton or chamber; a vesselcontaining liquid, in which said pontons work; and a marking deviceconnected to said magnets, and by which said diagram or chart is marked.

2. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of a diagramsheet or chart; a bowl or vessel for containing liquid; a marking deviceadapted to mark said chart or sheet; and magnets connected with saidmarking device, and controlling the position thereof, and contained in aponton or pontons, immersed in said liquid at a constant depth thebuoyancy of which is sufficient to carry the weight of the magnets,whereby the pressure on the supporting point of the marker is renderedsmall; substantially as herein described.

3. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of a bowl Z)adapted to contain a liquid; magnets a disposed within the said liquidin pontons a, immersed at a constant depth in said liquid and connectedwith a marker supported upon a central support a; a cover b over thebowl 1;, and a motor mechanism supported upon said bowl, and adapted tooperate a diagram chart or sheet, and the marker; substantially asdescribed.

l. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of a bowladapted to hold liquid; a pivot on which the magnets are mounted andsupported; pontons containing said magnets and disposed in the saidliquid; a marking device separate from the magnets connected bysuspension bars to the pontons containing said magnets, said pontonsbeing below the point of support of said marking device; substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of a diagramsheet or chart, magnets adapted to retain a north and south position,and a marking device disposed in a plane above that of the magnets, butconnected thereto and mounted upon a central pivot, and having twopricking or puncturing points by which two lines of punctures are markedand recorded on the diagram sheet, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

6. In a ships course recording apparatus,

the combination of a diagram sheet or chart;

magnets adapted to retain anorth and south position; a marking deviceconnected with the magnets, consisting of two arms with puncturingpoints; a pivot on which said marking device is supported; weights onsaid marking device opposite to and on the opposite side of said pivotwhereby said arms are both counterbalanced; and a loose joint connectionbetween said arms and the magnets.

7. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of a diagramsheet or chart; a table over which said diagram passes; a marking devicemounted upon a pivot below said diagram, and retained in a north andsouth position by magnets; and a ring mounted above said diagram sheetor chart, and serving as a protractor and as a means of keeping the saiddiagram on the table; substantially as set forth.

8. In a ships course recording apparatus, a marker pivotally mountedupon a fixed or immovable pivot, and whose position is retained bymagnets, in connection with a circular bar engaging with the end of saidmarker and adapted to be raised and depressed by suitable operating ormotor mechanism 011 the apparatus, to actuate said marker, throughoutthe whole circle; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a ships course recording apparatus, the table f over which arecording chart moves, a marker pivoted centrally below said table, thecomplete ring 6 for actuating said marker at its end, the side rods 10disposed diai'netrically opposite each other and connected to said ringat each side thereof, the

cross head '12 mounted centrally above said ring and connected to saidrods 20, the wheels u aiand suitable motor mechanism disposed above saidring and adapted to operate one of said wheels and to raise and let fallthe cross-head o, the upper of said wheels being fixed to said crosshead, and meshing with and operated by said motor actuated wheel,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. A ships course recording apparatus; a table over which the recordingchart or paper is moved; a marker controlled by magnets disposed andoperating below said table; a motor spring or springs disposed abovesaid table and supported thereon; a going train ortime keeping mechanismdirectly under said spring or springs but disposed above said table andsaid going train, whereby access to the table below the motor can behad; and a mechanism disposed directly above said motor spring orsprings and connected with the marker actuating device, and adapted toactuate and control said marker; substantially as set forth.

11. In a ships course recording apparatus, a spring or springs disposedcentrally above the marking device; an actuating device engaging withthe end of said marker adapted to operate same; and a pair of wheels a,if, having inclined teeth or planes meshing with each other, one ofwhich is adapted to be rotated by said spring, and the other is fixedand connected with said marker actuating ring, whereby, when theoperative toothed wheel is rotated said corresponding wheel and the saidmarker actuating device is first raised and then lowered; a cross bar rmounted centrally across the wheel a and side rods to connecting thecross bar v with the marker actuating device substantially as set forth.

12. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of the wheelsto and llby which the marker actuating device is operated; a springconnected to and adapted to operate one of said wheels, a; projectionsor teeth a on u, comprising two annular rows of detents; and the crownwheel if operated also through said spring or other spring, and adaptedto stop and release said wheelu and act as an escapement, whereby themarker actuating mechanism is controlled and intermittently operated;substantially as set forth.

13. In a ships course recording apparatus, two motor springs arrangedcentrally with the pivot of the magnet, and adapted to uncoil ICO IIO

on opposite sides of the center of the motor mechanism, said springsbeing connected through suitable mechanism with the marker of theapparatus and the recording chart or diagram feeding device; whereby thecenter of gravity of the apparatus remains undisturbed when the springsuncoil and the action of said springs upon the magnets is neutralized;substantially as set forth.

let. In a ships course recording apparatus, the combination of twosprings disposed within a case and centrally over the pivot of themagnets thereof, the outer ends of which springs are connected to theinside of the case, and their inner ends to the arbor of the motormechanism; two driving toothed Wheels, one fixed or formed on theoutside lower part of said case, and the other fixed to the arbor anddisposed at the top of said case; the said two wheels being moved inopposite directions one being adapted to drive the going train or timemechanism, the paper feeding roller, and the mechanism which controlsthe marker actuating mechanism, and the otherbeing adapted to drive saidmarker actuating mechanism; substantially as described.

15. In a ships course recording apparatus, a marker with magnetsconnected therewith by which a north and south position thereof isretained, a pivot supporting said marker and magnets, and mounted in agimbaled or swinging frame, a chart or paper storing roller mounteddirectly beneath said magnets, marker, and pivot, and guiding andfeeding rollers over which the said chart paper is fed in a horizontaldirection past said marker, and suitable motor mechanism adapted todrive or actuate said feeding roller, whereby the center of gravity ofthe apparatus is main- 4o tained when the paper is moved off saidroller, and the magnets and marker retain their horizontal position, andthe apparatus does not become tilted in its gimbaled or swinging frame,substantially as described.

16. A ships course recording apparatus, having the recording mechanismscomprising a motor mechanism, a marker and magnets, mounted as a wholeat each side upon a gimbal ring or equivalent support upon which saidapparatus is free to oscillate in one plane; and a pendulum incombination therewith having difierent rate of vibration, whereby thevariations or oscillations of the apparatus are diminished orneutralized; substantially as described.

17. A ships course recording apparatus having the recording mechanismcomprising a motor mechanism; a marker and magnets mounted as a whole ina suitable gimbal ring on pivots, and which when oscillated acts as apendulum; a mass or weight suspended by a free joint connection fromsaid apparatus and acting as a secondary pendulum, and having a vesselfilled with suitable liquid; and a vane or vanes on the apparatus anddisposed within the liquid in the said vessel; substantially as and forthe purposes described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN HOPE.

Witnesses:

T. RYDER MAWDSLEY, Notary Public, 2 00070 Street, Liverpool.

JAMES A. CoUBRoUGH, 15 Water Street, Liverpool.

